U.S. Open: Disastrous Round Could Snap Historic Streak For Oosthuizen

Louis Oosthuizen’s 77 during the opening round of the 2022 U.S. Open might be the end of a historic streak for the South African.

Things can change quickly in a year. Last year Louis Oosthuizen was yet again in contention at a Major Championship, this time it was at the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

Oosthuizen appeared to be on track to finally land that long sought-after second Major during Sunday’s final round in La Jolla, California. But for someone who has so often been the bridesmaid in the Majors, it was once again not to be.

Jon Rahm came storming back up the leaderboard with a final round 67 to deprive Louis on this occasion.

As if to add to his ‘so-nearly’ reputation the 2010 British Open winner came up agonizingly short in all three of the 2021 PGA Championship (2nd), U.S. Open (2nd), and British Open (3rd). It is actually quite remarkable that he was unable to prevail at least once during that stretch.

It is certainly not a surprise, however, as Louis Oosthuizen has finished runner-up in the Majors on six different occasions. The 39-year-old South African hasn’t played often in 2022, just six times, seven when you include his LIV debut last week in the United Kingdom.

His showings in this year’s Majors have been far less successful up to this point after he had to withdraw from the Masters in April and recorded a 60th place finish at the PGA Championship last month.

Perhaps the lack of tournament golf in 2022 has been to his detriment. One could certainly attribute his rough round on Thursday at this year’s U.S. Open to some rust.

Oosthuizen signed off with a 77 after a difficult opening round at The Country Club, one that included six bogeys, a double-bogey, and just one birdie. The result leaves him at +7 for the tournament and barring something special on Friday, packing his bags.

A cutline in the neighborhood of +4 or +3 will leave the South African needing somewhere in the realm of 66 or 67 tomorrow in difficult U.S. Open conditions to keep a historic streak alive.

Historic streak in jeopardy for Oosthuizen at the U.S. Open?

Coming into this week’s 122nd U.S. Open Louis Oosthuizen has made the cut in every Major Championship he has participated in since the 2017 British Open. The streak currently sits at a spectacular 16 consecutive cuts made.

The all-time record for consecutive cuts made in Majors belongs to both Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods who each made an astonishing 39 cuts in a row in golf’s four biggest events.

Louis Oosthuizen will need to produce something special during Friday’s second round at The Country Club if he hopes to keep the remarkable streak intact.

In the grand scheme of things, Oosthuizen will undoubtedly be focused on a return trip to the home of golf next month at St. Andrews for this year’s 150th British Open.

The site of his lone Major win back in 2010. The trip back to the iconic location may be exactly what is needed for Oosthuizen to at long last claim that second Major, how fitting would that be?.